Clothes drying apparatus with moisture condensing means



Jan. 30, 1962 E. G. oRR 3,018,552

CLOTHES DRYING APPARATUS WITH MOISTURE CONDENSING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1958 Jan. 3o, 1962 E. G. @RR 3,018,562

CLOTHES DRYING APPARATUS WITH MOISTURE CONDENSING MEANS File'd June 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @from/sy 3,018,562 CLOTHES DRYING APPARATUS WITH MOISTURE CONDENSING MEANS Ernest G. Orr, Willow Grove, Pa., assignor to Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Penn- Sylvania Filed .lune 5, 1958, Ser. No. 740,103 12 Claims. (Cl. 34-75) The invention herein disclosed and claimed relates to drying apparatus and pertains more particularly to equipment for drying fabrics.

Although of broader applicability, the principles of thel invention are especially useful in that type of laundering machine wherein provision is made for removal of liquid which is retained in fabrics or clothes after most of the liquid has been extracted therefrom following washing and rinsing thereof.

lt is usual practice to effect removal of liquid from wet or damp clothes by tumbling them within a drying enclosure which is heated so as to cause vaporization of the liquid, the moist vapor being picked up by and entrained in warm air circulating in said enclosure. In certain machines of the above mentioned variety, the entrained moist vapor is precipitated out of the warm air by passage of the latter in heat exchange relation with a wall section which is part of the drying enclosure and which is kept at lowered or condensing temperature by flowing a coolant, usually cold water, ove-r said wall portion.

Such known arrangements, although having advantages, give rise to certain difficulties and problems. For example, in order to reduce the time required to eifect satisfactory drying, it has heretofore been proposed to construct the condensing wall section with portions specially designed to spread the cold condensing water in a Iwide sheet over said Wall section. The construction of these special portions requires intricate and expensive forming tools and procedures which add to manufacturing costs. Moreover cooling of the condensing wall section suciently to produce condensation of the entrained moisture has heretofore necessitated the use of unduly large quantities of water throughout the drying process, so that the cost of operating the machine often becomes excessive.

It is therefore an object of this invention to overcome the above noted diiculties and problems by providing a novel arrangement which insures a condensing area capable of being thoroughly and uniformly wetted with a minimum quantity of coolant. In achievement of this general object, the invention employs a liquid-supplying manifold constructed to discharge a trickle of cold water over and across a wall section of the drying enclosure, and makes use of the simple and effective expedient of covering said wall section with a blanket or sheet of a liquid retaining medium or material, for example fabric, adapted to function in such manner that the discharged water is distributed throughout the length and width of said blanket or sheet. Because of this arrangement, it is possible to provide a large condensing `area which is easily constructed and economically kept in efficient operative condition.

Other and more specific objects of the invention have to do with the characteristic manner in which cold condensing water is fed into the manifold, and also with the particular manner in which the blanket or sheet of fabric is constructed and arranged within the drying chamber. In accordance with these specific objectives, the inlet which feeds condensing water into the manifold is located at a point below the normal level of the water present therein. Thus the water within the manifold provides a trap which serves to prevent the escape of hot moist vapor from the interior of the drying enclosure. Also in Snes aint accordance with the above mentioned speciiic objectives, the 'blanket utilized to cover the condensing wall portion of the drying enclosure, preferably is constructed with loose nap or pile on one of its sides and is so arranged that said one side is exposed to the interior of said er1- closure. In this manner the water which soaks the fabric tends to ooze to the outer surface of the blanket and there becomes exposed for good heat exchange relation with the circulating hot moist air.

The full nature of the invention and the manner in which the above mentioned as well as other objects and features are realized, will be more fully understood from the following description taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a washer-dryer combination machine incorporating a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view looking in the general direction of arrows 2 2 of FIGURE 1, with parts broken away;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of the outer member or tub of the drum-and-tu'b assem bly seen in FIGURE 1, a portion of said member being broken -away and a corner portion of the fabric covering the condensing section being lifted from normal position to illustrate certain features of the invention.

With more particular reference to the drawings, the essential elements of the illustrated clothes washer-dryer combination machine includes an outer cabinet structure 10 in which a drum-and-tub assembly 11 is suspended 4by means of springs 12 and shock absorbers 13 in a manner set forth in the U.S. patent to Oeler et al., No. 2,642,996 issued lune 23, 1953. rI'he assembly 11 comprises a perforated cylindrical tumbling drum 14 adapted to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis within a cylindrical liquid-retaining tub 15. Thefront wall 16 of the drum and the front wall 17 of the tub are each provided with an opening 18 and 19, respectively, said openings being disposed concentrically and adapted to register with the customary access door which is, as is usual, provided at the front of the machine. The drum has inwardly directed vanes or ribs 20 which insure tumbling of the clothes ywithin the drum during rotation thereof.

As represented in FIGURE 2, a stub shaft 21 is aixed to the rear wall 22 of the drum 14 to extend axially thereof and passes through a bearing 23 formed in the rear wall structure 24 of the tub 15. A pulley 25 is suitably anchored on the outer end of the shaft 21 and is actuated by means of a belt 26 which is in engagement with the usual multiple speed transmission driven by a motor 27 (FIGURE 1) and operable to rotate the drum at slow tumbling speed for washing and rinsing operations, at high centrifuging speed for a water-extracting operation, and again at slow tumbling speed for a heatdrying operation.

For washing and rinsing operations, water is admitted into the drum-and-tub assembly through la conduit 28 which opens into said assembly and receives water from the outlet side of a solenoid valve 29 of the usual well known construction for controlling flow of hot and cold Water from the supply lines. The water is withdrawn from the tub-and-drum assembly by function of a motor drive drain pump 30 which communicates through a conduit 31 with a sump 32 provided at the lower part of the tub 15'. The conduit 31 communicates with the sump 32 through a lint trap 33 removably supported below the discharge opening 34 of the sump. Drainage of the water from the drum-and-tub assembly is controlled by function of a solenoid actuated valve 35 interposed in the drainage system.

For drying operation, `the machine is provided with a heating section l36 and with a condensing section 37. The heating section 36 includes a suitable heater 38 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is of the electrical resistance type and is housed within a recess 39 forming an upper part of the peripheral wall of the tub 15. The condensing section 37 includes a water-distributing manifold 40 adapted to discharge cold water over a wall portion 41 which forms a lower inside part of the peripheral wall of said tub. These sections of 36 and 37 are located in positions substantially diametrically opposite to each other, and because warm air has a natural convective tendency to flow to a colder surface, the heated air Within the drying enclosure normally tends to flow from the heating section toward .the condensing section the latter being kept in cool condition by the How of relatively cold water yfrom the distributing manifold 40. In the illustrated arrangement, the water manifold 40 is in the form of an elongated trough extending across the non-rotatable tub 15 :and disposed at a level corresponding substantially to the horizontal plane of the axis of the drum, and the condensing Wall section starts at said manifold and terminates at the drain sump 32. The manifold or trough member is provided with a row or series of apertures 42 in the convenient form of slits so that water trickles from said member through said 4apertures and onto the condensing surface. Water is supplied to the trough member through a port or inlet 44 connected to a conduit 45 through which water is fed from the outlet side of a solenoid operated valve 47 for controlling the ow of water from a cold water supply line. A water deflector plate 48 is arranged within the manifold or trough-like member and is so disposed that water from the inlet 44 is deflected to accumulate in .said member up to the level ofthe discharge apertures 42. In this manner the water contained within the manifold or trough member forms a trap which prevents the escape of heated air through said inlet.

In particular accordance with the invention, a relatively porous or rugh water retaining sheet or surface covers the above-mentioned condensing section. Particularly, this sheet comprises the fabric blanket shown at S0. This blanket extends from the top of the trough member 40 to the drain sump 32, and is made of a highly absorbent textile so as to become thoroughly saturated or wetted with water distributed by the manifold or trough member 40. A textile material especially suitable for this purpose is the known type of fabric which is woven from Orlon and Dacron, the Weave being such that most of the Orlon appears on one side of the fabric in the form of a loosely textured nap or pile yand that most of the Dacron appears on the other side of the fabric in the form of a tightly textured web. This latter side of the fabric blanket is laid upon and ailixed to the surface of the tub 15 at lthe mentioned condensing section thereof, whereas the other or loosely textured Orion side of the fabric remains exposed and confronts the perforated rotatable drum 14.

The upper marginal portion of the blanket 50 overlaps the apertured portions of the manifold 40 and is held thereon by means of 4a spring channel bar 51. As best seen in FIGURE 4, the lrnain body of the blanket 50 is conveniently secured in position by means of adhesive 52 applied to the inner surface of the wall portion 41. The adhesive should be of the kind which once set or cured becomes highly resistant to moisture, heat and alkali. In practice, it has been found advantageous to use a thermosetting epoxy resin adhesive, such as that manufactured and sold under the trade-name of Permalastic by the Permalastic Product Company of Detroit, Michigan.

The adhesive is preferably applied in a criss-crossing strip pattern so that the adhesive coats only restricted areas of the blanket. In manner, the blanket is adequately bonded to the surface of theitub 15 while much 4 of the blanket remains uncoated and in floating-like condition so as not to impair the water-absorbing and wicklike function of the fabric.

This function of the fabric causes water to spread evenly throughout the blanket 50 so that all of its exposed surface is made available for condensing purposes thereby insuring rapid and more complete precipitation of moisture from the circulating air for the reason that cold water seeps or oozes through the fabric and covers its outer surface which thus becomes watersoaked to effect condensation by heat exchange between the hot moisture-laden `air and said watersoaked surface. Because of the above-mentioned characteristic features, the amount of water required to effect condensation is reduced to a minimum at the same time that the drying period is appreciably rduced. The condensate removed from the circulating air, accumulates in the sump 32 and is withdrawn therefrom through the trap 33 and drain line 31 by function of the pump 30. This pump also serves at the end of la washing operation and of a rinsing operation, to drain the wash water and the rinse water.

In practice, operation of the machine through its various cycles is controlled by means of sequential timing mechanisms, and energization of the heater to insure drying of the clothes wtihout scorching is controlled by means of thermostatic devices. Such control mechanisms and devices are well known Iand since they do not form essential parts of this invention they have not been shown nor described in detail herein. Reference may be made to the U.S. patent to Miller, No. 2,656,695 issued October 27, 1953, for arrangements suitable for controlling the hereinabove described washer-dryer combination machine.

While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, it will ybe recognized that the invention is not limited to that embodiment. For instance, it will be understood that the usefulness of the arrangement provided by this invention is not restricted to machines provided with electric heaters but that the arrangement is equally useful with machines having other types of heaters, such as gas burners. Moreover it will be understood that, if desired, forced circulation of through Athe drying enclosure may be obtained by employing a fan of suitable known construction in association ywith ductwork, for example, in the manner set forth in the Miller patent hereinbefore identified.

What I claim is:

'1. Drying apparatus comprising an enclosure for wet articles to be dried, heating means for raising the temperature within said enclosure to evaporate the moisture in said articles, means for providing a cool zone within said enclosure to condense the evaporated moisture, said last named means including a liquid feeder and a sheet of liquid-absorbing and liquid-retaining material, said feeder having outlet means located within an upper region of said enclosure to flow liquid coolant over an interior surface area of a side wall portion of said enclosure, said sheet overlying and maintained upon said surface area to soak up and become wetted with said coolant, said outlet means -being located to feed liquid coolant into the space ybetween said interior surface area and the overlying sheet of liquid-absorbing and liquid-retaining material, and liquid-draining inlet means located within a lower region of said enclosure.

2. Drying apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which the mentioned feeder has inlet means disposed at a level lower than the mentioned outlet means so that liquid coolant accumulates in said feeder and provides a trap preventing the escape of vaporized moisture through said feeder.

3. Drying apparatus as set forth in `claim 1, in which the mentioned liquid-absorbing and liquid-retaining material consists of textile fabric having a loosely woven side and a tightly fwoven side, said tightly woven side being disposed over the mentioned surface area of the mentioned wall portion.

4. Drying apparatus as set forth in claim 3, in lwhich adhesive applied in a cross-crossing strip pattern bonds restricted areas of the mentioned tightly woven side of the mentioned fabric to the mentioned surface area of the mentioned wall portion and leaves major areas of said fabric separated from said area.

5. In a clothes drying machine of the type in which heated air circulates to dry the clothes yby picking up and entraining moisture therefrom, the combination of a perforated drum mounted rotatably to tumble clothes therein, a tub enclosing said drum and having a heating section and a condensing section, said condensing section including an interior surface area of a side wall portion of said tub, -a manifold having outlet means located in a region of said tub above said wall portion to feed cold water to said condensing section, a sheet of water-absorbing and water-retaining material covering and maintained in contact with said area of Said wall portion to soak up said water and retain it for heat exchange with the hot moisture laden air to condense moisture from said air, said outlet means being located to feed cold water into the space between said interior surf-ace area and the covering sheet of Water-absorbing and water-retaining material, and liquid-draining inlet means located in a region of said tub below said wall portion.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5, in which the mentioned manifold has inlet means, said inlet means being disposed to open into said manifold at a level below the mentioned outlet means, so that water accumulates in said manifold before being fed to the mentioned condensing section.

y7. The combination set forth in claim 5, in which the mentioned manifold is in the form of an elongated trough extending across the major portion of the depth of the mentioned tub and having inlet means, the mentioned outlet means being in the form of a row of apertures along the length of said trough, and said inlet means being in the form of a port opening into said trough below said apertures.

8. Drying apparatus comprising an enclosure for wet articles to be dried, heating means for raising the temperature within said enclosure to evaporate the moisture in said articles, liquid-feeding outlet means located within an upper region of said enclosure, absorbent material overlying an interior wall surface of said enclosure below said region to absorb and to sustain liquid coolant for heat exchange with the evaporated moisture to condense the same, said outlet means being located to feed liquid coolant into the space between said interior wall surface and the overlying absorbent material, and liquid-draining inlet means located within a lower region of said enclosure.

9. Drying apparatus comprising la tub, a perforated drum rotatably mounted within said tu-b to tumble wet articles, heating means for raising the temperature within said tub and drum to evaporate the moisture in said articles, liquid-feeding outlet means located within an upper region of -said tub, absorbent material overlying an interior `wall surface of said t-ub below said region to absorb and to sustain liquid coolant for -heat exchange relation with the evaporated moisture to condense the same, said outlet means being located -to feed liquid coolant into the space -between said interior wall surface and the overlying absorbent material, and liquid-draining inlet `means located within a lower region of said tub'.

10. Drying apparatus as set forth in claim 9, in which the mentioned absorbent material consists of fabric constructed with loose nap on one side, said one side being disposed to confront the mentioned perforated drum.

l1. Drying apparatus as set forth in claim 9, in which the mentioned absorbent material consists of textile fabric having a loosely woven side and ta tightly woven side, said tightly woven side being disposed over the mentioned wall surface of the tub.

12. Drying apparatus as s'et `forth in claim 9, in which the mentioned absorbent material consists of textile fabric having a loosely woven side and a tightly Woven side, and in which adhesive |applied in a criss-crossing strip pattern bonds restricted tareas of said tightly woven side of said fabric to the mentioned wall surface and leaves major areas of said fabric separated from the surface.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,972,010 De Malaussene et al. Aug. 28, 1934 2,099,009 Finley et al Nov. 16, 1937 2,680,916 Smith June l5, 1954 2,720,037 Erickson Oct. l1, 1955 2,843,944 Toma et al. July 22, 1958 2,856,699 Frey Oct. 2l, 1958 

